What I Did in the Last Month pt. 2

The second trip. sponsored by IES, was up to Northern Ireland.  Starting Friday, we met in the afternoon in Belfast for a quick lunch and tour of the conflict murals, then verntured further North to a small sea-side town known as Portrush.  Here we spent two nights in a well kept, but very retro hotel complete with an adjoining  pub and full Irish breakfast served each morning!

Whiskey tasting at the Bushmill's Distillery

Saturday day we stopped off at a Bushmill's Distillery, the oldest, legal distillery, for a late morning kick-start.  Next, we visited a special part of the Northern Irish coast known as The Giant's Causeway.  It was wet, windy, and incredible. 

Rainbow's are commonplace in Ireland

Group shot, a la Jake Kimble

In the "Giant's Boot"

After being taken out for a huge dinner at a restaurant with the most literal menu in the world (a cheeseburger pizza was actually a pizza with a cheeseburger on top), we had a night out on the town and encountered our first DRINK SPECIAL in Ireland - 2 for 1 until 11pm.  Boy, did Derrick and I take advantage of that!

The next morning, before heading back to Dublin, we stopped off at another part of the coast to walk the Carrick Rope Bridge.  I could try and describe how unstable you felt crossing it, but I think the pictures do it more justice...

Also in included in this month was the dreaded midterm week.  A storm that I can safely say we navigated ourselves through with relative ease.  What's worrisome now is the only thing that separates us from the end of our study abroad experience are 2 final exams, 7,000 words -spread over 4 papers, and a trip to Scotland.  All of which take place within the time frame of less than 4 weeks of time.  Giddy-Up!

Poland experience coming shortly.

What I Did in the Last Month pt. 1

Park lunch in the Galway town-square. (Great idea, Adam!)

The first trip we took was to Galway to see the west coast (also known as the REAL Ireland by all those who live there).  We spent the Firday night in the city, known as a culture-rich college town, and the second night on a nearly deserted Island - known as Inis Mor - that you could only reach by riding a fairy.  Galway was much less expensive and far smaller than Dublin, but equally as fun.  I taught some stiff Irish youths how to dance, but sadly, no photos were taken.  

 

To jump, or not to jump...

Inis Mor was incredibly eerie upon our arrival (8pm on Saturday night, pitch-black with almost no signs of life), but incredibly gorgeous once the sun rose.   In our hostel, we met a couple of old ladies - one from Texas, the other Alaska - who told us where to go if we wanted to see cliffs.  It was as if they read our minds!  So Sunday morning, we set off on a 45 minute hike to witness one of the most beautiful landscapes one could imagine.

The hike

The reward

What started out as a haphazard venture, turned out to be one of the most fulfilling trips I've ever taken in less than 3 days.  So much adventure, but so little time!  In between all of this, there were delicious meals, loud laughs, and special moments.  Many of which I can't include because I simply don't remember, but rest assured, they happened.  

To My Avid Readers

I sincerely apologize for my absence.  I know it's been hard for you, and my phantom-like existence is frustrating and largely unforgivable,  but in a vein attempt to justify myself, let me offer you an explanation.  

It's due to a combination of factors.  Mainly: a flood of academic assignments, successive trips, and a failing economic market.  Also, I felt compelled to finish my latest Chuck Palahniuk book, Rant.  It all happened in the blink of an eye, and in order to keep my head above water I couldn't afford to stop and contemplate, so I sincerely apologize.

For now, it is off to KraKow, Poland, to get a first person perspective of the Home-Country!  Until Monday, when I promise to return in full force with constant updates,  Na Zdrowie!